January 2015

1/14/15 Mid January Tarpon Fishing in the Everglades

Tried to give it a shot for tarpon today in the everglades.  Forecast was off it was suppose to be light southeasterly winds and sunny, however it was hard north winds with fog.  Stayed pretty dreary most of the day.  Unfortunately this was not great for tarpon fishing conditions although the water temperature was at least in the mid 70s.  We struggled trying to find mullet only caught a few, but we did manage to get into a good school of ladyfish to catch for bait.  Tried setting up in some of the channels where the tarpon were last time we found them before the previous cold front.  Not much activity from them we did have a few shark bites when the current started finally moving.  After that ran off the beaches of the mainland, current was moving good there and sun finally came out as the wind switched more easterly.  Looked like a pretty afternoon.  Unfortunately no tarpon to be seen here either, we did catch plenty of sharks though.  Oh well nothing is guaranteed especially tarpon fishing in January in Islamorada!  Another front is expected Friday so I don’t think I’ll be trying again for a little while.  0 for 0

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

1/5/15 More winter time tarpon in Islamorada

Gave the tarpon another shot today.  This morning we spent catching mackerel, snapper, ladyfish, and other things on light tackle.  Good action.  After the tide quit around 11 we went and looked for some mullet.  Found the big giant school we’ve seen the last week in the same place.  Caught about a dozen fatty black mullet.  Set up in the channels and put ’em out.  Within 10 minutes we had a big 100 lb tarpon on.  Not much of a jumper but got one nice jump shot out of him.  We landed him and then set back up.  After 20 minutes or so we hooked another smaller fish of 40 lbs or so.  He jumped and put on a good show for a little while but petered out quickly.  We landed him and called it a day.  More great tarpon action in january in the florida keys.  Though looks like wednesday night we have it getting cold for a few nights, so that will likely shut it down.  2 for 2.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk

1/4/15 Florida Keys Tarpon Fishing in January

Well the january florida keys tarpon fishing continues.  Had Dave and his boys again from yesterday.  We had a couple shots that day but the tarpon got the better of us.  Today we tried again.  The morning I fished closer around flamingo with the falling tide.  Not much life only had one shark bite and the water was muddy with lots of grass with the hard southeast wind.  So we went and fished with the light rods for a while and caught plenty of mackerel.  The afternoon when the tide switched things looked much better and found a clean strip of water in one of the channels.  We put baits out and within 15 minutes we jumped a small 20 lb fish, then hooked a big 120 lber.  We caught the big boy then I moved to another channel as it started to rain and lots of grass coming in.  We jumped a couple of tarpon at that spot too, unfortunately didn’t get them.  But a few sharks to end the day.  Great fishing for the month for tarpon in islamorada in january!  1 for 4.

Capt. Rick Stanczyk